Shalom,
The last time we looked at Psalm 140 we covered the verses 1 and 13. Today we want to start with verse 2:
2 They devise mischiefs in their heart; continually they gather together and stir up wars. 3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent's; adder's poison is under their lips. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent men who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
The "theys" are the evil and violent men of verse 1! They do nothing fruitful, but spend their time "devising", the Hebrew word, "chashab", which means: to imagine, to calculate, to invent; "mischiefs", the Hebrew word, "ra", which means bad, evil, disagreeable, vicious! The Psalmist, David, is calling on the LORD to "keep" him, the Hebrew word, "shamar", which means: to watch, to guard, to preserve, to treasure up; and to "preserve", the Hebrew word, "natsar", which means: to to watch, to guard, to keep close. If there were people doing these evil things back in the first century, you can be certain that they are doing worse things right now! Call on the LORD and EXPECT His mighty deliverance! Do NOT get into doubt, fear and unbelief over when you see and hear these things happening! Just continue "casting all your care on the LORD" (1 Peter 5:7). He WILL deliver you!
In John 17 Jesus is praying for His disciples saying this in verse 15-16:
15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
Jesus WANTS us to remain in this world so that others may be saved and snatched OUT of the kingdom of darkness! That's why He goes on to say in verse 18:
18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
To do what? To preach the Gospel! AMEN! And in case you were, for even one moment, thinking that this was JUST for the disciples, look at verse 20:
20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their Word and teaching.
THAT'S US!!! And to give you confidence that you CAN do it, Jesus said this in verses 22-23:
22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: 23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.
THAT is who YOU are! Loved by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and ONE with them! Filled with His glory and power and authority! Given the name that is above every Name to use to set people free! WHAT are you waiting for?
Ezekiel 48 spells out very clearly where the borders of the nation of Israel actually are, declared by God Himself! How DARE anyone say different! If the rulers of this world would honor the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, there would NEVER be war! Israel is NOT the reason for wars all over the world! Godless people are! Those who have refused the One, True God have always, and will always, try to go their own way! One day, very soon I believe, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that HE IS LORD! Then we can say "I told you so!", but we won't want to! We'll be too busy! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
